Egypt: Mohammed Morsi imposes state of emergency

President Mohammed Morsi responded to days of rioting across Egypt by
declaring a state of emergency in the three worst-hit cities.

Al Ahly fans celebrate and shout slogans in front of the Al Ahly club after hearing the final verdict of the 2012 Port Said massacre in CairoPhoto: REUTERS

By Magdy Samaan, Port Said and Richard Spencer in Cairo

9:15PM GMT 27 Jan 2013

Mr Morsi spoke on Egyptian state television to impose curfews and military control reminiscent of the Mubarak era on Port Said, Suez and Ismailiya.

Earlier, six people died in fighting in Port Said between mourners, protesters and the police at funerals for some of the 31 people killed in clashes on Saturday, when protests against death sentences handed down to football rioters were met with live fire and tear gas.

In a worrying development, protesters were armed and fired shots at police lines.

Mr Morsi had been criticised for his low profile during a series of disturbances that began in Cairo on Thursday night, the eve of the second anniversary of the Tahrir Square protests that brought down ex-President Hosni Mubarak.

He ordered a 30-day state of emergency with curfews in the three Suez canal cities. Suez saw nine deaths on Friday, after protests marking the revolution, while the governorate and Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Ismailiya were both stormed.

Mr Morsi also called for dialogue with the main opposition groups, leaders of which had called for new protests on Monday.

He said he would not turn his back on freedom and democracy, but added: “I have said I am against any emergency measures but I have said that if I must stop bloodshed and protect the people then I will act.”

About 200 people marched in the streets of Ismailia shortly after he declared the state of emergency.

Mr Mubarak kept a state of emergency in place throughout the 30 years of his rule, and it was only lifted six months ago.

Sunday’s deaths brought to over 45 the number killed in protests since Thursday, on top of 1,139 injured.

Earlier, one leading member of Mr Morsi's own Muslim Brotherhood had called on him to "step in with full force".

"What are you waiting for to interfere?" Mohammed el-Beltagy, a former MP said. "You need to stop the arson attacks, blocking roads, bridges and tunnels and provide security. It is your duty to immediately intervene to face this thuggery through all legitimate means provided by the constitution and the law, including declaring an emergency state."

The EU and Britain both called for calm. Alistair Burt, the Foreign Office minister for the Middle East, said: "We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that all protests remain peaceful."

The funerals in Port Said were typical of Egypt's recent chaos. As the procession passed the police and army clubs, mourners began throwing stones over the walls, according to some witnesses. Others say the immediate response, tear gas fired from inside, was unprovoked.

The army club was then torched.

One man present, Adel al-Sayed said mourners dropped their coffins as the tear gas spread.

The latest clashes were triggered by death sentences passed down on Saturday on 21 men accused over Egypt's worst recent football massacre.

Last February, 74 visiting fans from Cairo's Al-Ahly team were attacked and killed after a game at Port Said's Al-Masry.

Police opened fire as protesters and relatives tried to storm the prison where the accused were being held.

Ayman Ali said he had been with his brother, Hani, a street-seller, near the East Port Said police station on Saturday. They were trying to get home when Hani went ahead to see what was happening.

"As he passed a car salesroom he was shot in the head and chest," Mr Ali said. "It came from the direction of the police station. We weren't taking part in the demonstrations – we were just trying to get home."

The army, which had been deployed in Port Said in an attempt to keep the peace, were posted at major buildings but the streets were otherwise largely empty of security.